La noche cerrada/ The closed night
Don Horacio remained static when he saw her. He was absorbed in contemplating Teresa collecting the patient's medications, making the bed, all in a quick and silent manner. The young mulatto woman was aware of the eyes behind her body, of the menacing gaze the man used every time she entered the room.
Era la guerra y Don Horacio, capitán del ejército, estaba herido.Sus tropas todavía seguían en el campo, por lo que Don horacio pedía ser llevado al lugar donde estaban sus hombres, porque si debía morir, tenía que ser con ellos, decía. Pero estaba muy mal herido y estaba bajo los cuidados de Teresa quien cumplía órdenes del doctor.
It was war and Don Horacio, captain of the army, was wounded, his troops were still in the field, so Don Horacio asked to be taken to the place where his men were, because if he had to die, it had to be with them, he said. But he was badly wounded and was under the care of Teresa, who was following the doctor's orders.
En la noche comenzó el bombardeo. En el rostro de Don Horacio más que reflejarse el dolor, trasciende la rabia. Sabe que como trombas sus hombres chocan con el enemigo, caen, se levantan y siguen la pelea. Tiembla enfurecido e intenta levantarse, pero Teresa, la mulata, no lo deja y él furioso la agrede, le pega. Con los dientes chirriando y el cuerpo temblando de fiebre, Don Horacio se levanta, pero cae inconsciente.
At night the bombing began. Don Horacio's face, more than reflecting pain, transcends rage. He knows that his men collide with the enemy, fall, get up and continue the fight. He trembles in anger and tries to get up, but Teresa, the mulatto woman, does not let him and he angrily attacks her, hits her. With his teeth chattering and his body trembling with fever, Don Horacio gets up, but falls unconscious.
Luego de tres días de haber estado delirando y de haber sido cuidado por Teresa, Don Horacio se despertó y lo primero que vio fue a la mulata cerca de él. Ella como si le leyera la mente, lo miró fijamente y le dijo: "Ganamos". Entonces Don Horacio comenzó a llorar y tomó las manos de Teresa. La mulata simplemente asintió porque entendió que con aquel gesto silencioso el hombre le daba las gracias.
After three days of being delirious and being taken care of by Teresa, Don Horacio woke up and the first thing he saw was the mulatto woman near him. She, as if reading his mind, stared at him and said: "We won". Then Don Horacio began to cry and took Teresa's hands. The mulatto simply nodded because she understood that with that silent gesture the man was thanking her.